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Leaf traits variation in Sesleria nitida growing at different altitudes in the Central Apennines

  • Original Papers
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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Global climate change may act as a potent agent of natural selection within species with Mediterranean mountain ecosystems being particularly vulnerable. The aim of this research was to analyze whether the phenotypic plasticity of Sesleria nitida Ten. could be indicative of its future adaptive capability to global warming. Morphological, anatomical, and physiological leaf traits of two populations of S. nitida growing at different altitudes on Mount Terminillo (Italy) were analyzed. The results showed that leaf mass per unit leaf area, leaf tissue density, and total leaf thickness were 19, 3, and 31% higher in leaves from the population growing at 1,895 m a.s.l. (B site) than in leaves from the population growing at 1,100 m a.s.l. (A site), respectively. Net photosynthetic rate (P N) and respiration rate (R D) peaked in June in both A and B leaves [9.4 ± 1.3 μmol(CO2) m−2 s−1 and 2.9 ± 0.9 μmol(CO2) m−2 s−1, respectively] when mean air temperature was 16 ± 2°C. R D/P N was higher in B than in A leaves (0.35 ± 0.07 and 0.21 ± 0.03, respectively, mean of the study period). The mean plasticity index (PI = 0.24, mean of morphological, anatomical, and physiological leaf traits) reflected S. nitida adaptability to the environmental stress conditions at different altitudes on Mount Terminillo. Moreover, the leaf key traits of the two populations can be used to monitor wild populations over a long term in response to global change.

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Abbreviations

A site:

1,100 m a.s.l.

B site:

1,895 m a.s.l.

C:

soil organic carbon content

CD:

mesophyll cell density

DM:

dry mass

DXV:

diameter of the xylematic vessels

E :

transpiration rate

ETab :

abaxial epidermis thickness

ETad :

adaxial epidermis thickness

g s :

stomatal conductance

HCB:

height of the central vascular bundle

HLB:

height of the major lateral vascular bundle

LA:

leaf area

LMA:

leaf mass per unit leaf area

LT:

total leaf thickness

LTD:

leaf tissue density

LW:

leaf width

N:

total soil nitrogen content

PI:

mean plasticity index

PIa :

anatomical plasticity index

PIm :

morphological plasticity index

PIp :

physiological plasticity index

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

R D :

respiration rate

RH:

relative air humidity

SAIab :

abaxial stomatal area index

SAIad :

adaxial stomatal area index

SBC:

total surface area of bulliform cells

SDab :

abaxial stomatal cell density

SDad :

adaxial stomatal cell density

SLab :

abaxial stomatal length

SLab :

adaxial stomatal length

SOM:

soil organic matter content

SWC:

soil water content

T :

air temperature

T l :

leaf temperature

T m :

mean air temperature

T max :

mean maximum air temperature

T min :

mean minimum air temperature

UST:

thickness of the upper sclerenchyma layers

WCB:

width of central vascular bundle

WLB:

width of the major lateral vascular bundle

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    L. Gratani, M. F. Crescente, V. D’Amato, C. Ricotta & G. Puglielli

  2. Department of Life Earth and Environmental Science, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, loc. Coppito, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    A. R. Frattaroli

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  1. L. Gratani
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  2. M. F. Crescente
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Gratani, L., Crescente, M.F., D’Amato, V. et al. Leaf traits variation in Sesleria nitida growing at different altitudes in the Central Apennines. Photosynthetica 52, 386–396 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-014-0042-9

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